1780, of 42, 36 and 28 guns, on their paffage from St. Vincent's to Martinico. On the 20th of March, as the French admiral was convoying a number of merchant fhips, with four ships of the line and a frigate, he fell in with capt. Cornwallis off Monti Chrifti, whom he chafed and came up with in the evening. He maintained a running fight with the British ships, of 64, 50, and 44 guns during the whole night. The next morning a general engagement took place, which lafted between two and three hours. The French fuffered so that they were obliged to lie by and repair. They then renewed the chase, and continued it during the night. But the appearance of the Ruby man of war of 64 guns, with two British frigates, the following day, changed the face of affairs. The French were now chafed in turn for several hours, as they declined coming to action. They were fuperior in the fize of their ships, and the weight and number of their guns; but as the British had a fhip more, the admiral would not risk the lofs of any of his convoy, by renewing the engagement.

Sir George Rodney was appointed to the chief command in the Weft Indies; and had orders to proceed in his way thither, with a strong fquadron to the relief of Gibraltar; which had been so closely blockaded by the Spaniards ever fince the commencement of hoftilities between them and the British, that the garrison was reduced to confiderable diftrefs, as well with refpect to provifions, as to military and garrifon ftores. After being a few days at fea, he fell in with a confiderable convoy, bound from St. Sebaftian to Cadiz, confifting of 15 fail of merchantmen, under the guard of a 64 gun fhip, 4 frigates from 26 to 32 guns, and two fmaller armed

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veffels. The whole fleet was taken. The capture was 1780. Jan. exceedingly fortunate, much the greater part of the veffels being laden with wheat, flour and other provision, the remainder with bale goods and naval ftores. The admiral fent the former to Gibraltar, the latter to Great Britain. About a week after, he fell in with a Spanish 16. fquadron of eleven ships of the line under Don Juan Langara, off Cape St. Vincent. The enemy being much inferior in force, endeavoured to avoid an engagement. On that, Sir George threw out the signal for a general chase, with orders to engage as the fhips came up by rotation, taking at the fame time the lee gage, to prevent the enemy's retreat into their own ports. The engagement was began by the headmoft ships about four o'clock in the evening: their fire was returned by the Spaniards with great fpirit and refolution. The night was dark, tempeftuous and difmal, and the fleet being nearly involved among the fhoals of St. Lucar, rendered the aspect more terrible. Early in the action, the Spanish ship San Domingo, of 70 guns and 600 men, blew up, and all on board perished. The action and pursuit continued till two in the morning, when the headmost of the enemy's line ftruck to Sir George, The Spanish admiral's fhip of 80 guns, with three of 70, were taken and carried fafely into port. The San Julian of 70, commanded by the marquis de Medina, was taken; the officers were shifted, and a lieutenant with 70 British feamen put on board; but by running on fhore the victors became prifoners. Another fhip of the fame force was alfo taken, and afterward totally loft by running upon the breakers. Two more efcaped greatly damaged, and two lefs fo into Cadiz.

1780, of 42, 36 and 28 guns, on their paffage from St. Vincent's to Martinico. On the 20th of March, as the French admiral was convoying a number of merchant fhips, with four ships of the line and a frigate, he fell in with capt. Cornwallis off Monti Chrifti, whom he chased and came up with in the evening. He maintained a running fight with the British fhips, of 64, 50, and 44 guns during the whole night. The next morning a general engagement took place, which lafted between two and three hours. The French fuffered fo that they were obliged to lie by and repair. They then renewed the chafe, and continued it during the night. But the appearance of the Ruby man of war of 64 guns, with two British frigates, the following day, changed the face of affairs. The French were now chafed in turn for several hours, as they declined coming to action. They were fuperior in the fize of their fhips, and the weight and number of their guns; but as the British had a fhip more, the admiral would not risk the lofs of of his convoy, by renewing the engagement.

any

Sir George Rodney was appointed to the chief command in the Weft Indies; and had orders to proceed in his way thither, with a strong fquadron to the relief of Gibraltar; which had been so closely blockaded by the Spaniards ever fince the commencement of hoftilities between them and the British, that the garrison was reduced to confiderable diftrefs, as well with refpect to provifions, as to military and garrifon ftores. After being a few days at fea, he fell in with a confiderable convoy, bound from St. Sebastian to Cadiz, consisting of 15 fail of merchantmen, under the guard of a 64 gun ship, 4 frigates from 26 to 32 guns, and two fmaller armed

8.

veffels. The whole fleet was taken. The capture was 1780. Jan. exceedingly fortunate, much the greater part of the veffels being laden with wheat, flour and other provision, the remainder with bale goods and naval ftores. The admiral fent the former to Gibraltar, the latter to Great Britain. About a week after, he fell in with a Spanish 16. fquadron of eleven ships of the line under Don Juan Langara, off Cape St. Vincent. The enemy being much inferior in force, endeavoured to avoid an engagement. On that, Sir George threw out the fignal for a general chase, with orders to engage as the fhips came up by rotation, taking at the fame time the lee gage, to prevent the enemy's retreat into their own ports. The engagement was began by the headmost ships about four o'clock in the evening: their fire was returned by the Spaniards with great spirit and refolution. The night was dark, tempeftuous and difmal, and the fleet being nearly involved among the fhoals of St. Lucar, rendered the afpect more terrible. Early in the action, the Spanish ship San Domingo, of 70 guns and 600 men, blew up, and all on board perished. The action and pursuit continued till two in the morning, when the headmost of the enemy's line ftruck to Sir George, The Spanish admiral's fhip of 80 guns, with three of 70, were taken and carried fafely into port. The San Julian of 70, commanded by the marquis de Medina, was taken; the officers were shifted, and a lieutenant with 70 British feamen put on board; but by running on fhore the victors became prifoners. Another ship of the fame force was also taken, and afterward totally lost by running upon the breakers. Two more efcaped greatly damaged, and two lefs fo into Cadiz.

1780. The Spanish admiral behaved with the greatest gal4 lantry. He was himself forely wounded; and before he struck to capt. Macbride, his fhip the Phoenix was nearly a wreck. A malignant kind of fmall pox prévailing on board the Bienfaifant, capt. Macbride, that humane and brave officer, difdaining to convey infection even to an enemy, and perhaps confidering the peculiar terror with which it is regarded by the Spaniards, and the general ill afpect it bears to that people, acquainted Don-Langara with the circumftance and his own feelings on the fubject; and at the same time offered (that so the danger which would attend shifting the prisoners might be prevented) to truft to the admiral's honor, that neither his officers nor men, amounting to above 700, fhould in cafe of feparation or otherwife, in any degree interrupt the British feamen fent on board, whether with refpect to navigating the fhip, or defending her against whatever enemy. The propofal was thankfully embraced, and the conditions ftrictly adhered to by the Spanish admiral: for though there was no other ship but the Bienfaisant in fight, and though the fea and weather were exceeding rough, his people gave every affiftance in refitting the Phoenix, and in navigating her to the bay of Gibraltar.

Sir George having executed his commiffion at Gibraltar, proceeded about the middle of February to the Weft Indies, leaving the bulk of the fleet, together with the Spanish prizes, on their way to Great Britain, under the conduct of admiral Digby. The returning fleet fell in with a confiderable French convoy, most of which efcaped, only the Prothee of 64 guns and two or three veffels laden with military stores being taken.